OvervieuwAmaranth is an erect tropical annual with long - stemmed leaves and small black seeds growing up to 5' tall.The leaves, up to 5 inch long, are notched or rounded at the tips.The flowers are whitish - green while the seeds are very small, black or red-brown.
Amaranthus tricolor is very closely related to the species Amaranthus spinosus, hybridus and dubius.The leaves of the Amaranthus species are used as vegetable in Suriname; even very young children can eat these!
They are rich in minerals (calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper and manganese) and vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, riboflavin and foliate).